Station-indicator.



J .'F. BATES. STATION INDICATOR.

- APPLICATION FILEDMAR. 20. 1916.

1,28,729. Patented Dec. 19, 1916.

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STATION INDICATOR.

APPLICATKON FILED MAR-10,1916.

Patented Dec. 19, 191.6,

JOHN F. BATE S, 0F PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

A STATION-INDICATOR.

' Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec.19,1916.

Application filed March 20, 1916. Serial No. 85,251.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that 1, JOHN F. BATES, a citizen of the United States, residing at Philadelphia, in the county of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Station-Indicators, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in station indicators, an object of the invention being to provide improved means for moving the series of name cards which permits the cards to be moved in either direction in accordance with the route.

A further object is to provide an improved mounting for an angular drum over which the name cards are moved by the rotation of the drum, and provide improved means 'for imparting a quarter turn'to the drum at each operation.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in certain novel features of construction and combinations and arrangements of parts as will be more fully hereinafter described and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 is a view in front elevation partly broken away illustrating my improvements. Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the angular drum showing the name cards thereon. Fig. 3 is a view in vertical longitudinal section on the line 33 of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary end view partly broken away illustrating the means for turning the drum, and Fig. 5 is an enlarged view in section on the line 5-5 of Fig. 1.

1 represents a casing having a front 2, preferably removable and provided with a transparent section 3, through which the name cards 4 may be seen. This front plate 2 is supported in longitudinal grooves 5 in casing 1, and can be removed by sliding the same out of the grooves when access to the interior of thecasing is desired.

The name cards 4: have eyelets 6 therein receiving links 7, which connect the cards and permit the cards to be changed whenever desired, as the links can be readily opened and closed.

8 is a rectangular drum which is provided in the upper portion of casing 1, and has trunnions 9 at its ends mounted to turn in the casing. One of these trunnions 9 ext nd th o gh the cas g, and has a four pointed star wheel 10 secured thereon by a nut 11.

The portion of trunnion 9 which receives the star wheel 10 is made angular or otherwise formed to compel the drum and star wheel to turn together. The four faces of the rectangular drum, 8 are of approximately the same size as the name cards 1, and to insure a proper registration and prevent slipping on the drum, I provide pins 12 at the edges of the drum 8, which project between the cards and compel the cards to move with the drum.

A vertical partition 13 is provided in casing 1, and the two ends of the series of name cards are adapted to move on opposite sides of this partition and pile up as they accumulate.

The drum 8, on one of its trunnions 9, is provided with an angular block 14, which is engaged by a U-shaped spring 15, secured by a bracket 16 to the inner face of casing 1. This U-shaped spring expands as the block 1 1 is revolved as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 5, and compels the drum to complete a quarter turn and stop at such completion of movement.

A bearing bracket 17 is secured on the outside of casing 1, and supports a journal bolt 18, the latter secured in place by a nut 19 screwed onto the upper end of the journal bolt. An arm 20 is pivotally connected to the lower end of the journal bolt 18, and a pawl 21 is pivotally connected to the free end of arm 20.

A single wire spring 22 is provided which operates to hold the arm 20 in normal position, and also hold the pawl 21 in normal position, the wire being secured at one end to the bolt 18, and between its ends bearing against the arm 20, while the free end of the spring 22 bears against pawl 21 as shown clearly in Fig. 4.

A pin 23 is secured in the arm 20, and to the free end of the pin 23, a chain or other flexible device 2 1 is secured, and permits the operation of the device as will be hereinafter explained.

A guide bar 25 is pivotally supported at one end on a bolt 26, connected to casing 1, and at its other end has an opening 27 to receive a pin 28, projecting from the casing 1. hook 29 is pivotally connected to bar 25, and is adapted to be projected through an open ing 30 in the free end of pin 28 to hold the bar 25 in its normal position. This bar 25 cooperates with the end of easing 1 to form aguide for the movement of pawl 21 and the free end of arm 20, compelling the same to move in a path to engage the star wheellO and cause the star wheel to turn a distance of one tooth at each oscillation of the arm 20.

The operation is as follows: hen the chain 24 is pulled downwardly, arm 20 is swung in the are of a circle and pawl 21 engages one of the teeth of star wheel 10, causing the drum 8 to be given a one quarter turn. This movement is just suflicient to move the next name card 4 into line with the transparent portion 3, and the chain 2-1 may be operated manually or automatically as desired. When the end of the route is reached, the conductor releases hook 29, and swings the bar 25 to the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 4-. He can then swing the arm 20 to the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 4:, the journal bolt 8 permitting this turning movement. The bar 25 isthen returned to its former position and secured by the hook 29. A downward pull on the chain 24 will then operate to move the series of cards 4 in the opposite direction, and this reversal of position is performed at each end of the car route.

Various slight changes might be made in the general form and arrangement of parts described without departing from my invention, and hence I do not limit myself to the precise details set forth, but consider myself at liberty to make such changes and alterations as fairly fall within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A station indicator comprising a casing, a drum in the casing, name cards movable over the drum, a star Wheel secured to turn with the drum, a bearing bracket, a journal bolt secured to the bracket, an arm pivotally connected to the journal bolt, a pawl connected to said arm and adapted to engage the star wheel when the arm is oscillated, and removable means forming a guide-way, together with the side of the casing, for the arm, said journal bolt permitting the. arm

to be moved to either side of the star wheel' when said means is removed, whereby the drum mav be turned in either direction, substantially as described.

2. A station indicator comprising a casing, a drum in the casing, name cards movable the drum, a bearing bracket, a journal bolt secured in the bearing bracket, an arm pivotally connected to the journal bolt, a pawl movably connected to the arm and adapted 'to engage and move said means when the ally connected to the journal bolt, a pawl connected to the free end of the arm and adapted to engage the star wheel when the arm is oscillated, and said journal bolt permitting the arm to be moved to either side of the star wheel, whereby the drum may be turned in either direction, substantially as described.

4. A station indicator, comprising a casing, a drum in the casing, name cards movable over the drum, a star wheel secured to turn with the drum, a bearing bracket on the outside of the casing, a journal bolt secured in the bearing bracket, an arm pivotally connected to the journal bolt, a pawl connected to the free end of the arm and adapted to engage the star wheel when the arm is oscillated, a guide bar pivotally connected to the casing and behindwhich the pawl and free end of the arm are adapted to move, a locking device normally holding the guide bar in position, but permitting the same to move and allow the arm to be swung to the opposite side of the star wheel, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JOHN F. BATES.

\Vitnesses:

RHonA E. GILLIEs, CHAS. E. PoTTs.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. G.

over the drum, means secured to turn with V 

